Anak Gen-X

Back in the mid to late ’90s, when I was working at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad , I used to walk past Sin Seng Nam almost every day. It sat quietly along Medan Pasar , one of those old-school kopitiams that seemed to belong to another time -- the kind that made the city feel warm and familiar. Most mornings, the crowd was the same: lawyers, court officers, and KL office workers grabbing their roti bakar , half-boiled eggs , and kopi-o before work. I’d sometimes join them, enjoying that comforting mix of kaya toast and charcoal coffee , the clink of cups and chatter bouncing off the high wooden windows. It wasn’t just breakfast -- it was a little pause before the city roared to life. I left that job in 2000, but Sin Seng Nam carried on until 2013, when it was reported to be closing permanently after 85 years. The original family could no longer maintain the old building, and The Star wrote about the closure with the kind of sadness reserved for true KL landmarks. For many of us who’...

I’ve just watched In Search of the Unreturned Japanese Soldiers  in Malaysia ( 1971 ), and it’s one of those documentaries that stays with you long after it ends. Famed director  Shôhei Imamura sets out to find Japanese soldiers who never went home after World War II, choosing instead to remain in Malaya . The search feels awkward and unfinished, which somehow makes it more honest. History, after all, rarely wraps things up neatly. The most memorable figure is “ A-lee ”, a former Japanese soldier who stayed on and later embraced Islam . Listening to him speak about the religion — quietly, sincerely, without drama — is unexpectedly moving. Who would have thought that after war, defeat and displacement, a Japanese soldier would find peace in Islam? There are no easy conclusions here, no grand moral lesson. Just the reminder that when wars end on paper, lives continue in all sorts of unpredictable ways. Some people return home. Others don’t. And sometimes, in the aftermath, they...

Pantai Minyak Beku di Batu Pahat , Johor bukan sekadar pantai biasa. Di sinilah keindahan alam , kehidupan nelayan dan kisah sejarah hampir 200 tahun bertemu. Ini 4 perkara menarik tentang Pantai Minyak Beku yang ramai tak tahu...

To be honest, I started going to this place rather late, cos although I had been to Singapore countless times, I always ate at my auntie’s place and we didn’t eat out much. Only when I had started working that I’d make a mandatory stop here -- because once you’ve had Zam Zam murtaba k , it’s very hard to go back to ordinary ones. I mean, the best Singapore  murtabak should come from Singapore lah. Yes, I know it’s the “populist” choice, but the murtabak here is that good. Thick yet crispy on the outside, packed with minced meat and telur on the inside -- every bite is pure joy. Cut a big piece, dip it into the rich curry, and just savour it. And don’t get me started on that extra chili sauce with cucumber slices  -- some people find it odd, but that little tang and crunch add the perfect acidity to balance the heaviness. Located just across from the iconic Masjid Sultan in Kampong Glam,  Zam Zam Restaurant  has been serving hungry folks since  1908  --...

Seri Negara has finally reopened to the public after its refurbishment, and honestly, it was worth the wait. We visited it ourselves and were greeted by a familiar sight throughout the day: gaping mouths. Everywhere you turned, people were quietly ooooh-ing and aaaah-ing as they stepped into each gallery. The restoration feels respectful rather than flashy — elegant, thoughtful, and quietly confident — the kind of place that doesn’t need gimmicks to impress. Formerly known as the King’s House , this 112-year-old colonial mansion was built in 1913 and has played an important role in Malaysia’s journey to independence . What’s remarkable is that the restoration, carried out under Khazanah Nasional ’s Warisan KL initiative , was completed in just 10 months — and ahead of schedule. Today, Seri Negara houses well-curated cultural galleries and heritage exhibitions that make learning about the building (and the country) genuinely engaging. Foreign visitors won’t feel lost, and our young one...

  Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur , atau Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad , ialah antara masjid tertua di ibu negara dan terletak di pertemuan Sungai Klang dan Sungai Gombak . Dibina pada tahun 1909 di atas tapak perkuburan Melayu lama, ia merupakan masjid besar pertama di Kuala Lumpur . Masjid ini direka oleh Arthur Benison Hubback dalam gaya Indo-Saracenic berpengaruh seni bina Mughal .  Batu asasnya diletakkan oleh Sultan Selangor , Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah pada 23 Mac 1908 , dan masjid ini dirasmikan pembukaannya pada 23 Disember 1909 , sebelum berfungsi sebagai masjid utama Kuala Lumpur sehingga siapnya Masjid Negara pada tahun 1965 .

Tolong sikit, tak mainlah “sunat laser”. Generasi kami menggunakan peralatan tajam untuk beralih status dari kanak-kanak ke dewasa. Ia juga memberi lesen untuk melontarkan kata-kata berlagak dengan nada riak kepada yang masih belum dipotong apa yang sepatutnya dipotong.  Ceritanya biasanya begini. Soalan pertama yang ditimbulkan — bilakah masa yang paling sesuai untuk berkhatan? Ramai yang percaya, lagi berumur, lagi “liat” nanti anunya. Tapi jangan ketika terlalu kecil, nanti takut “adik” takkan membesar lagi. Langsung tidak saintifik, tapi itulah antara mitos yang dipegang sebagai fakta dulunya.  Aku sendiri telah ditentukan oleh ayah dan pakcik-pakcik untuk berkhatan ketika aku di Darjah 4. Dan oleh kerana aku merupakan anak tunggal, aku akan berkhatan bersama 3 orang sepupu yang lain (seorang lebih tua, seorang sama umur dan seorang lagi lebih muda).  Majlis kemudiannya ditetapkan akan berlangsung ketika cuti sekolah akhir tahun. Jadi, sebaik loceng tamat sekolah berd...

The announcement (somewhat) shocked the world recently. After 44 years, Music Television (MTV)’s dedicated music channels are shutting down, and the internet has gone into full nostalgia-meltdown mode . And rightly so. There was a time when VJs ruled the television world. You could see why: impossibly good-looking people introducing the hottest music videos on the planet, making it seem like the coolest job ever invented by humankind. The media couldn’t get enough of them either. In this part of the world, VJs were celebrities in their own right, with devoted fans who followed their every move, outfit and on-screen quirk. They weren’t just presenters — they were pop culture fixtures. I was knee-deep in the lifestyle media scene in the 2000s, so I had my fair share of VJ moments and encounters. One-on-one interviews with the Asian MTV brigade came with the territory: Thai heartthrob Utt , the zany Aditya , Singapore’s Belinda , and the one that guys collectively went gaga over — Donita...

Pulau Pangkor bukan sahaja terkenal dengan pantai yang memukau dan suasana tenang , tetapi juga sebagai rumah kepada salah satu masjid paling unik di Malaysia — Masjid Al-Badr Seribu Selawat , atau lebih popular dipanggil Masjid Seribu Selawat atau Masjid Terapung Pulau Pangkor .  Dengan seni bina yang memukau dan nilai keagamaan yang mendalam , masjid ini bukan saja menjadi tempat solat tetapi juga tarikan pelancongan yang wajib dilawati apabila berada di pulau ini. Berikut empat perkara menarik yang membuatkan Masjid Seribu Selawat begitu istimewa!

On 19 December 1941 , Penang fell into Japanese hands, marking one of the earliest and most traumatic chapters of World War II in Malaya . Just days earlier, British forces had abandoned the island without a fight, leaving civilians stunned and defenceless. Once known proudly as the “ Pearl of the Orient ”, George Town was suddenly exposed, its harbour and streets open to an invading army that had already demonstrated its military speed and ruthlessness across Southeast Asia. The takeover came after devastating Japanese air raids that began on 8 December 1941 , coinciding with the attack on Pearl Harbor. With no meaningful resistance, the Japanese landed and swiftly imposed military rule. Life changed almost overnight: curfews were enforced, food became scarce, the Japanese military yen replaced the Straits dollar , and fear became a daily companion. Many Penangites —especially the Chinese community—faced harsh treatment, interrogations, and forced labour, while others struggled si...

As a true-blue Johorean , I’ve always had a soft spot (and stomach) for lontong . Growing up, it was a breakfast staple and a must-have during Hari Raya mornings -- that glorious combo of nasi impit , kuah lodeh  and  sambal  that just says “home.” Now, while the Klang Valley has no shortage of Johor-style lontong spots, I’ve also developed a fondness for the Selangor version -- and one name stands out: Lontong Klang . They’ve got a few outlets around Shah Alam that my family and I frequent, but to truly appreciate its heritage, you have to visit their original spot in Klang , at Lebuh Tapah . Lontong Klang’s story goes way back to the early 1970s , when it began as one of the popular stalls at the legendary Emporium Makan -- a beloved food court right in the heart of Klang, opposite Pasar Jawa and beside Jambatan Kota . For decades, Emporium Makan was a makan landmark for Klangites until it finally closed in 2019 to make way for the LRT3 project . Thankfully, the...

Seeing news reports today about the completion of the long-awaited restoration of Carcosa Seri Negara  sent me down a nostalgic rabbit hole. It reminded me that long before Crazy Rich Asians and The Singapore Grip rolled in with their film crews and international glamour, Malaysia Hari Ini had already beaten them to it. Yes, we were there first. Minus the Hollywood budget, of course -- but with just as much history in the background. Carcosa Seri Negara , perched on a hill overlooking the Lake Gardens , was originally built in 1896 as the official residence of the British Resident , Sir Frank Swettenham , before the adjoining Seri Negara was added in 1913. Over the decades, the estate has hosted royalty, dignitaries and heads of state, and more recently gained international attention when it appeared in Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and the BBC adaptation of The Singapore Grip (2020), standing in beautifully for colonial-era Singapore. As for that MHI episode in 2010, it was one of...

Kuala Pilah ialah sebuah bandar dan daerah bersejarah di Negeri Sembilan yang terletak di tengah negeri, kira-kira 38 km dari Seremban , dan pernah menjadi ibu negeri Negeri Sembilan sebelum Seremban mengambil alih peranan itu. Nama “Kuala Pilah” dipercayai berasal daripada Sungai Pilah , di mana perkataan pilah dikaitkan dengan bilah buluh -- buluh yang dibelah kecil untuk membuat peralatan harian -- lalu berubah sebutan kepada Pilah.  Bandar ini berkembang sebagai pusat perdagangan, pentadbiran dan komuniti yang menyaksikan campur budaya terutama Melayu Minangkabau dan komuniti Cina sejak zaman British awal. Warisan sejarahnya dipamerkan melalui bangunan lama seperti rumah kedai pra-perang , Istana Lama Seri Menanti yang kini muzium, serta warisan Adat Perpatih yang kaya dalam kehidupan masyarakat setempat.  Petikan filem "Anak Seluang Jauh Melaut".  Kredit: Finas

Ketika aku membesar, hanya ada enam buah universiti awam sahaja di Malaysia . Jadi, untuk mendapatkan tempat dan digelar seorang Budak ‘U’ ialah sesuatu yang dianggap sukar, tapi sangat membanggakan.  Dalam keluarga besar sebelah Allahyarham ayah aku sendiri, ada dua atau tiga orang sepupu yang berjaya ke menara gading sebelum aku menduduki peperiksaan SPM , dan aku memang memandang tinggi kepada mereka. “When I grow up, I want to be like them,” fikir aku.  Namun, faktor penting yang memberi aku motivasi untuk menjadi seorang mahasiswa juga ialah pengaruh positif budaya popular.  Mungkin ramai yang tak berapa ingat, tapi awal tahun 80an, stesen TV ada menayangkan sebuah siri berjudul ‘ The Paper Chase ’ yang berkisar pelajar-pelajar jurusan undang-undang di sebuah universiti di Amerika Syarikat. Tercetus dalam diriku impian untuk belajar undang-undang (yang akhirnya menjadi kenyataan) kerana tertarik dengan vibe nerd yang bijak, serta karakter seorang profesor garang ( Pr...

While I had plenty of Sarawakian buddies back in uni, I only got to properly taste one of their famous dishes -- Mee Kolok -- when I landed in Kuching in 1996, during the first part of my posting in the judiciary. And it was my good friend Ben who brought me to this place called Kopi O' Corner in Satok . My first thought? “Pretty basic noodle dish.” It could be dry or soupy, simple and straightforward. But after a while, it grew on me. The flavours, the texture, that distinct Sarawakian touch -- it just worked. From then on, Mee Kolok at Kopi O' Corner became a must whenever I’m in Kuching. The food court itself opened in 1992, owned by Datin Norlia Fadil, and over the years it has remained a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Apart from Mee Kolok, there are stalls selling bakso , laksa , mee jawa , satay , roti canai and more. The place has even been featured on TV3’s Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan and TV2’s Jom Makan! The last time I was there was in May 2024, again wit...

  It was just after midnight on 8 December 1941 when Japanese troops landed on the beaches of Kota Bharu , Kelantan -- making it the very first point of invasion in Malaya during the Second World War . In fact, this landing happened about an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbor , meaning the war in the Pacific technically began on our shores. The Japanese arrived in rough seas, but their mission was clear: secure the airfields at Kota Bharu to open the gateway for a rapid push down the peninsula. British and Indian troops put up fierce resistance, and the fighting was intense along the beaches of Sabak , Badang , and Pantai Seri Tujuh . Despite the defence, the Japanese eventually broke through, marking the start of their swift advance that would change the course of Malayan history. The significance of that day cannot be overstated. 8 December 1941 was the moment Malaya was thrust directly into global conflict -- a day that signalled the collapse of British power in the re...

  Perasmian Malaya Hall telah disempurnakan oleh Duchess of Kent pada 12 Disember 1949 . Mulai 1951 , Kerajaan Persekutuan menyewa empat unit bangunan di Bryanston Square -- unit 44 dan 45 dijadikan pejabat Malaysian Students Department (MSD) serta penginapan pelajar dari Malaya, manakala unit bawah tanah bernombor 46 dan 47 dijadikan kantin. Sewa tahunan kepada Portman Settled Estate Limited ditetapkan pada kadar £400 setahun. Pengurusan Malaya Hall disokong melalui subsidi kerajaan sebanyak £3,500 setahun, selain hasil sewaan bilik dan sumbangan masyarakat. Kadar sewa pada awalnya ialah £2.07 seminggu bagi single room dan £2.10 seminggu bagi double room, sebelum dinaikkan pada 1962 kepada £6.16 dan £6.06 seminggu. Beberapa bilik dinamakan sempena tokoh penyumbang seperti Datuk Panglima Bukit Gantang , Loke Wan Tho dan Shaw Brothers , yang turut menyumbangkan piano serta perabot. Selepas kemerdekaan, Malaya Hall ditukar nama kepada Malaysia Hall . Saksikan video di SINI Sumb...